Gutter heating system

ABSTRACT

A gutter heating system incorporates pipes carrying a heated fluid and being secured to heat transfer panels attached to a lower side of the gutter. The pipes are attached to a channel formed in the heat transfer panels. The water or other fluid may be recirculated in a closed system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods for heating roofinggutters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical building has a roof with a degree of pitch to it so thatprecipitation can drain from upper locations on the roof toward an edgeof the roof. The water runoff is collected in the gutters located at theperiphery of the roof, and a downspout typically carries the water offthe roof and toward an appropriate drain.

In some locations during cold weather, snow or ice can build up on theroof. Likewise, water may sometimes pool in the gutter as it flows fromthe roof and along the gutter to the downspout. In some buildings, thegutter is attached to eaves that are extended away from the side of thebuilding, and in such cases the gutter is less insulated and tends to becolder than the portion of the roof immediately above the building.During particularly cold weather, snow or rain may freeze within thegutter, clogging the drain leading to the downspouts. In addition,frozen water contained in the gutter may build up, and the gutter maycollapse or break under the weight of the ice. Likewise, when the gutteris clogged with snow or ice it facilitates the creation of icicleshanging from the gutter, which can pose a danger as the icicles growover time.

Some effort has been made in the past to try to heat a gutter to preventbuildup of ice within the gutter. One such current effort includes theuse of conductive wires that produce heat when current flows through thewires. In this configuration, the wires are placed within the gutter atthe top side of the roof, exposing them to the elements. Wire-basedsolutions are prone to failure and when that happens workers must useshovels atop the roof to remove snow and ice from the gutter. Thisphysical removal process often damages the heating wires, leading tofurther failures. Despite this long-felt need, current efforts havefailed to produce an effective solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gutter heating system in which pipescarrying a heated fluid are attached to the gutter. In a preferredversion, heat transfer panels are mounted to the lower side of thegutter, while pipes or tubes are attached to a channel formed in theheat transfer panels.

In some versions of the invention, the water may be recirculated in aclosed system. In a preferred version, a closed system includes a pumpand a heater in line with the pipes or two being carrying the fluid tothe transfer panels.

In some versions of the invention, several pipes are used with a singlegutter. Preferably, a manifold is provided to divide the fluid from asingle tube to the plurality of tubes used with the particular gutter.

Most preferably, the fluid is a mix of water and ethylene glycol.

In one example of the invention, the pipes or tubes are formed from PEXpipe, while in other versions the tubes may be formed from PVC or othermaterials

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having a representative roofand eaves with a gutter.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the gutter illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a heat transfer panel and to, taken alongline A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a preferred gutter heating system.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the gutter illustrated in FIG. 1, showing analternate gutter heating system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an alternate gutter heating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a building 10 having a roof 12 and a plurality ofsidewalls 18, 19. In the illustrated example, the roof has a centralpeak diverting precipitation toward each of the two sides of thebuilding. It should be appreciated that the present invention is equallyapplicable to roofs that are pitched differently than the illustrationof FIG. 1, including roofs without a central peak or roofs that are moregently sloped. Similarly, the present invention is applicable to roofsformed from any of a variety of materials including metal, wood shakes,composition, tar, torch-down, and others. Still further, while thebuilding in FIG. 1 illustrates eaves extending beyond the verticalbuilding sidewalls, the present invention is equally applicable to abuilding having a roof without eaves as illustrated, in which the gutterdoes not extend beyond the vertical sidewall or does so only to a smallextent.

In the illustrated example, each of two separate sides of the roofincludes a gutter 13, 14. In other buildings, gutters may surroundsubstantially the entire perimeter of the building, or may be locatedonly on one side. Accordingly, the description that follows is directedto a section of gutter such as the right side gutter 13. It should beappreciated that the gutter heating system described below can betailored to suit gutters of varying sizes, lengths, and widths.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the gutter 13 includes an upper surface 16 anda lower surface 17 with a raised sidewall 15 extending around theperimeter of the gutter. The upper and lower surfaces 16, 17 of thegutter are substantially planar and a typical case the gutter will beslightly sloped to direct water toward the downspout (not shown). Thelower surface 17 of the gutter is indicated as extending beyond thevertical wall 18 of the building (that is, on the outside of thebuilding), though as noted above in some buildings the lower surface 17of the gutter may be located inside the building. Similarly, the lowersurface of the gutter may not be horizontal as illustrated, and in somecases it may be sloped.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the lower surface 17 of the gutteras described above with reference to FIG. 1. Thus, the components shownin FIG. 2 are mounted beneath the gutter where they may stay dry and outof the rain, snow, or runoff from the roof. Likewise, when positionedbeneath the roof they are readily accessible for repair andreconfiguration.

In general, the preferred gutter heating system includes a plurality oftubes or pipes 30 attached to the lower side of the gutter. The tubes 30may be attached using hooks, adhesives, brackets, or other fasteningstructures. In some versions, the tubes may be simply placed atop joistsor snaked through holes drilled or otherwise formed in joists or similarstructures in the roof. In the preferred version as illustrated, thesystem includes a plurality of heat transfer panels 40 mounted to thebottom side of the gutter, and a tube or pipe 30 attached to each of theheat transfer panels 40. The tube 30 includes a first end 31 and asecond end 32, with the fluid traveling through the tube from the firstend 31 toward the second end 32.

In the illustrated example, six heat transfer panels 40 are shown,spaced apart along the gutter and leaving portions of the tube 30 beingpositioned adjacent the gutter but not attached to a heat transferpanel. It should be appreciated that a larger or smaller number of heattransfer panels may be used, as desired in order to facilitate transferof heat from the tubes carrying heated fluid through the transfer panelsand to the gutter. In most cases, the heat transfer panel will be formedfrom a highly conductive material such as extruded aluminum, anddepending on the construction of gutter the heat transfer panel may besuperior at transferring and spreading the heat out along the surface ofthe gutter. Accordingly, it is generally preferred to use a greaternumber of heat transfer panels (or a longer portion of such panels), andin one version of the invention the entirety of the tube is attached toheat transfer panels between the tube and the gutter. In other versionsof the invention, heat transfer panels are provided along all orsubstantially all of the length of the straight sections of tubing, andare omitted only locations where there are sharp bends in the tubing.

A sectional view of a preferred heat transfer panel is shown in FIG. 3,taken along lines A-A in FIG. 2. As shown, the heat transfer panel 40includes a lower planar portion 42 and an upper channel 46 formed by apair of uprights 44, 45. The channel may include inward-facing ribs orother features to facilitate retention of the tube 30 within thechannel. An example heat transfer panel suitable for use with thepresent invention is the Joist Trak™ heat transfer panel sold by UponorWirsbro, Inc. The Joist Trak™ heat transfer panels are available inversions in which the lower planar portion 42 has a 4 inch widths and a48 inch length. Individual sections of such panels may be cut intosmaller lengths as desired. Preferably, the heat transfer panels areformed from extruded aluminum or other metal so that they readilyconduct heat from the tubing 30 to the gutter 13.

The heat transfer panels may be attached to the lower side of the gutterin a variety of ways, and in a preferred version they are attached usingan adhesive such as Plastic Welder II™ produced by Devcon™. In order toimprove the heat transfer, in a preferred version a thermal paste isapplied between the heat transfer panel and the lower side of thegutter. In one example, the thermal past is 310 Thermomastic™ producedby Devan Sealants, Inc.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a preferred gutter heating system. In apreferred system, the heated fluid within the gutter heating system isrecirculated in order to improve efficiency and reduce waste. Inaddition, the use of a closed system allows the gutter heating system touse fluid other than water alone within the tubing. Nevertheless, in oneexample of the invention the gutter heating system directs freshwatersuch as water from a standard hot water tank or other source of hotwater through the pipes or tubing 30 and then toward a standardwastewater drain.

In one example of a closed system such as illustrated in FIG. 4, thesystem optionally includes a tank 50 which is configured to hold adesired volume of water. The incorporation of the tank allows for thecollection of overflow, and also facilitates the removal, amendment, orreplacement of the fluid within the system, such as to add ethyleneglycol to the water, or to replace it altogether. A length of pipe ortubing 30 carries the fluid from the tank to an in-line pump 60. Inother versions of the invention, the configuration of the tank and pumpmay vary, such as by incorporating a consolidated tank with a pump. Thepump 60 draws water from the tank and through another section of pipe ortubing 30 to a heater 70. The heater 70 is preferably a gas orelectric-powered instant hot water heater.

It should be appreciated that the tank and heater can be configureddifferently than as illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the heater andtank may comprise a single unit where the tank is also a hot waterheater. In general, the combined tank 50, pump 60, and heater 70 areconfigured to collect, pump, and heat the water or other fluidscirculating through the system.

Ultimately, the fluid is directed through the tubing 30 which isattached to the gutter mounted heat transfer panels 40. As the fluidtravels through the tubing attached to the heat transfer panels 40, theheated fluid within the tubing causes the transfer panels to heat up,thereby further transferring it to the lower side of the gutter. Becausethe gutter is commonly formed from a relatively thin metal or plasticmaterial, heat from the heat transfer panels will in turn warm thegutter, thereby preventing water from within the gutter from freezing.Likewise, the heat can melt ice that has already frozen. In the exampleas illustrated in FIG. 4, the fluid travels in the direction of thearrows, which is a clockwise direction as shown from the input end 31 ofthe tubing attached to the heat transfer panels to the output end 32.

The tubing 30 used with a preferred gutter heating system is preferablyformed from PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene. PEX pipe is preferredbecause it is flexible, easy to install because it requires very fewfittings, and is resistant to corrosion. As noted, for example, withreference to FIG. 4, several lengths of tube or pipe are shown. Mostpreferably, the tubing used within the heat transfer panels and beingpositioned adjacent the gutter are formed from PEX, but the otherillustrated sections of tube or pipe may be formed from other materials.Likewise, the other components such as the tank, pump, and heater may bejoined in a more direct fashion, reducing or eliminating the need foradjoining tubes or pipes.

In a preferred implementation, the fluid carried within the tubing is amix of water and ethylene glycol. Most preferably, the fluid is a mix ofapproximately 60% ethylene glycol and 40% water. The inclusion of amixture of ethylene glycol prevents the fluid within the pipes fromfreezing at low temperatures, thereby allowing the system to remain off(that is, wherein the fluid is not flowing) while still remainingresistant to freezing. It also raises the boiling temperature, allowingthe system to use hotter fluid than could be used with water alone.Ethylene glycol is also a useful heat transfer agent, and thereforeuseful as an additive to water for the fluid in the current gutterheating system.

In the preferred system as described, the tubing is mounted to thegutter via heat transfer panels having a flat planar base and a clipforming a channel for mounting the tubing. This configuration is usefulbecause such panels are readily available and formed to spread the heatacross the panel. In other versions of the invention, different clips orattachment mechanisms may be used, including using adhesives or othermeans to mount the tubing directly to the lower side of the gutter (thatis, without an actual heat transfer panel). Though less desirable, thetubing may alternatively be placed within the gutter on the upper sideof the gutter, or may be sandwiched between upper and lower gutterplates. In either case, however, the tubing is thermally coupled to thegutter, either by being placed in close proximity to the gutter, beingadhered directly to the gutter, or by being indirectly attached to thegutter through a mounting device.

In the example described above and illustrated in FIG. 2, a single tube30 is mounted to the bottom of the gutter with a return bend at one end,thereby providing an outbound leg and a return leg. A configuration ofthis type is useful because it allows the maximum usage of heat from thetubing to be placed adjacent the gutter in a closed heating systememploying a single tube. Any number of tubes may be used in a gutterheating system, depending on the size of the gutter and the amount ofheat needed to be applied to the gutter.

With reference to FIG. 5, for example, an alternate gutter heatingsystem may include a pair of tubes 30 a, 30 b attached to the lower sideof the gutter 17 in the same fashion as described above reference toFIG. 2. Each tube includes an input end 31 a, 31 b and a return end 32a, 32 b. A preferred block diagram for the system as illustrated in FIG.5 is shown in FIG. 6. The block diagram of FIG. 6 is the same as that ofFIG. 4, except that a first manifold 80 is provided upstream of theseries of one or more gutter mounted heat transfer panels 40, with thefirst manifold 80 dividing the fluid flow from the tube 30 into aplurality of fluid carrying tubes, 30 a, 30 b. While two separate fluidcarrying tubes are illustrated, it should be appreciated that the fluidmay be divided into any number of tubes, as desired. In addition, asecond manifold 90 is provided downstream of the series of guttermounted heat transfer panels 40, with the second manifold 90 joining thefluid from the plurality of tubes to a single return 30 so that thefluid may be returned to the tank 50 for another cycle. As illustrated,the fluid in the system of FIG. 6 travels in the direction of the arrowsas shown.

The various components, such as the tank, pump, and heater, may beplaced on our around the building in any position as desired. Forexample, they may be mounted either just inside or just outside one ofthe building walls adjacent the gutter or, if the gutter and eaves arelarge enough, they may be mounted to the eaves. Most preferably, thecomponents are positioned so that they are as close to the gutter aspossible to reduce heating loss as the fluid travels through the tubingtoward the heat transfer panels.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

1. A gutter heating system for a gutter having an upper surface and anopposing lower surface, the gutter heating system comprising: a heaterconfigured to heat a fluid; and a tube in fluid communication with theheater and configured to carry the fluid heated by the heater, the tubebeing positioned beneath the lower surface of the gutter and attached tothe gutter, the tube further being thermally coupled to the gutter. 2.(canceled)
 3. The gutter heating system of claim 1, further comprising aheat transfer panel attached to the lower surface of the gutter, thetube being attached to the lower surface of the gutter via the heattransfer panel, whereby the tube is thermally coupled to the lowersurface of the gutter through the heat transfer panel.
 4. The gutterheating system of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer panel is attachedto the gutter via an adhesive.
 5. The gutter heating system of claim 3,further comprising thermal paste positioned at the interface between theheat transfer panel and the gutter.
 6. The gutter heating system ofclaim 3, wherein the tube forms part of a closed system and is furtherconfigured to return the fluid to the heater for reheating by the heaterand recirculation by the tube.
 7. The gutter heating system of claim 6,further comprising a pump positioned within the closed system andconfigured to move the fluid through the tube.
 8. The gutter heatingsystem of claim 7, further comprising a tank positioned within theclosed system and configured to receive a volume of fluid for furthercirculation within the closed system.
 9. The gutter heating system ofclaim 7, wherein the tube comprises a plurality of tubes each beingthermally coupled to the gutter, the system further comprising amanifold configured to direct the heated fluid to the plurality oftubes.
 10. A method for forming a gutter heating system for a gutterhaving an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the methodcomprising: positioning a tube along the lower surface of the gutterwherein the tube is thermally coupled to the gutter; and attaching thetube to a source of a heated fluid; whereby the heated fluid can passfrom the source of heated fluid through the tube and heat the gutter.11. (canceled)
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step ofpositioning the tube further comprises attaching a heat transfer panelto the lower surface of the gutter and attaching the tube to the heattransfer panel.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step ofattaching the heat transfer panel to the gutter further comprises usingadhesive to attach the heat transfer panel to the gutter.
 14. The methodof claim 12, further comprising applying thermal paste to the interfacebetween the heat transfer panel and the gutter.
 15. The method of claim12, further comprising forming a closed system via the tube whereby thefluid is returned to the heater for reheating by the heater andrecirculation by the tube.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising positioning a pump within the closed system and configuringthe pump to move the fluid through the tube.
 17. The method of claim 16,further positioning a tank within the closed system, the tank beingconfigured to receive a volume of fluid for further circulation withinthe closed system.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step ofpositioning the tube further comprises positioning a plurality of tubesadjacent the gutter, each of the plurality of tubes being thermallycoupled to the gutter, and further comprising positioning a manifoldwithin the closed system, the manifold being configured to direct theheated fluid to the plurality of tubes.
 19. The gutter heating system ofclaim 3, wherein the heat transfer panel comprises a planar portion anda channel formed by a pair of uprights, the planar portion beingattached to the lower surface of the gutter and the tube being receivedand retained within the channel.
 20. The gutter heating system of claim19, wherein the planar portion and the pair of uprights of the heattransfer panel are integrally formed from aluminum.